What it Takes to Become an Oral Surgeon - Jake Hardin

  Oral surgeons treat medical and dental problems involving the oral cavity and maxillofacial area. These areas include the bones of the face, forehead, jaw, and other soft tissues around these areas. Most oral surgeons have degrees in both medicine and dentistry, which is why they are kind of a mixture of a dentist and a medical doctor.

Oral Surgeons Work Done:

   Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons usually deal with things along the lines of reconstructive surgery and different treatments in repairing "structural abnormalities involving the mouth, neck or face" (Persson para. 3). Another thing these surgeons are frequently involved in are the treatments of oral cancer. They'll do anything from the removal of tumors to the reconstruction of different parts of the face, such as the mouth or jaw. Lastly, oral surgeons can also perform different surgeries involving the removal of teeth as well as numerous dental procedures

Training to Become a Oral Surgeon:

   The amount of training and education needed to become an oral surgeon is very time consuming. Expect to be in school for at least 8 years if you are hoping to become something in the field of dentistry, like a surgeon or orthodontist. After graduating with a four-year degree you will eventually have to take the DAT, and if you do well on that then you are off to dental school for at least 4 years.

   If you manage to make it past dental school, then you can apply for surgical residency which usually lasts anywhere from four to six years for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Once the residency is completed, surgeons are able to take an extensive exam which officially makes them board certified in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Salary of a Oral Surgeon:

   After becoming board certified as an oral surgeon, expect to be making anything in the six-figure salary range. The average salary in the United States for oral surgeons is $212,303; for location and years of experience play a large role in determining the salary of these surgeons.

 
   Forbes.com rated oral surgeons as the fourth best paying job in the U.S., which makes sense because the average salary is so high. You have to remember even though the annual salary for this job is very high it takes years to actually start making money, and the cost of education is through the roof. However, if you do not mind putting in the years of work, then becoming an oral surgeon will definitely be worth it in the end.

Works Cited:

Farnen, Karen. "What Do You Need to Do to Become an Oral Surgeon?" What Do You Need to Do to Become an Oral Surgeon? Hearst Newspapers, LLC, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

"Oral Surgeon Salary (United States) United States Home Change Country Don't See What You Are looking For? Get A Free Custom Salary Report »." Oral Surgeon Salary. Payscale, Inc., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Persson, Ricky. "Becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon." Gap Medics US. Gap Medics, 01 Aug. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.